She Stoops to Conquer recap

Mr. Hardcastle plans a match between his daughter Kate and Charles Marlow, the son of an old friend. Marlow and his companion Hastings lose their way, and the mischievous Tony Lumpkin directs them to the Hardcastle home while describing it as an inn. Marlow consequently treats his host like an innkeeper. He is tongue-tied with Kate when he knows her as a gentlewoman, yet falls in love with her when her plain dress leads him to mistake her for a servant. Hastings, already in love with Constance Neville, uses the confusion to plan an elopement and recruits Tony against Mrs. Hardcastle, who wants Constance to marry Tony so she can retain control of the young woman's jewels. The schemes nearly collapse when Mrs. Hardcastle discovers them. In the end Kate proves Marlow's sincere love and reveals her identity. Tony learns he is legally of age and refuses the unwanted match, leaving Constance free to marry Hastings. The two chosen couples unite and Mrs. Hardcastle's designs fail.

At their country home, Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle disagree about old-fashioned and modern ways. Mr. Hardcastle tells his daughter Kate that he hopes she will marry Charles Marlow, the son of his friend Sir Charles. Kate agrees to meet him, although she has heard that he is extremely shy among respectable women. Mrs. Hardcastle presses her niece Constance Neville to marry Tony Lumpkin, Mrs. Hardcastle's son, so that Constance's inherited jewels will stay in the family. Neither intended partner wants the match: Constance loves George Hastings, while Tony prefers drinking and singing with his companions at the Three Pigeons. Marlow and Hastings arrive at that alehouse after losing their way. In revenge for being ordered home, Tony directs them to the Hardcastle residence but claims it is an inn and portrays Mr. Hardcastle as an intrusive landlord. The travelers continue toward the house prepared to treat its owner accordingly.

Mr. Hardcastle drills his farm servants in table service before the visitors arrive. Believing the house to be an inn, Marlow and Hastings disregard him, order food and rooms, and criticize their surroundings. Hardcastle assumes their arrogance is genuine and is astonished that his friend's modest son behaves so badly. Hastings recognizes Constance and learns the truth about the house, but he keeps Tony's deception alive so that he can pursue his plan to elope with her. He also tells Constance that Marlow's social confidence changes sharply according to a woman's apparent rank. When formally introduced to Kate, Marlow is so embarrassed that he can barely look at her or sustain a conversation. Kate sees enough to doubt that this awkward man is simply indifferent. Hastings asks Tony to help obtain Constance's jewels, which the couple hope will support them after they escape Mrs. Hardcastle's control.

Mr. Hardcastle tells Kate that Marlow has been insolent, while Kate describes him as excessively reserved. Their conflicting reports persuade Kate to investigate further. Wearing the plain dress her father requires at home, she is mistaken by Marlow for a barmaid or poor relation. In that supposed setting his shyness vanishes, and he flirts freely; Kate decides to continue the mistake long enough to discover whether there is a better character beneath his divided behavior. Tony steals Constance's jewel box from his mother's keeping and gives it to Hastings. Hastings entrusts the box to Marlow without explaining its contents, asking him to keep it secure. Still thinking Mrs. Hardcastle is the inn's landlady, Marlow promptly hands the box to her for safekeeping. Tony and Constance then help convince Mrs. Hardcastle that the missing jewels have merely been misplaced, but the inheritance has unknowingly returned to the very person they hoped to evade.

Hastings learns that Marlow returned the jewels to Mrs. Hardcastle, but he still prepares horses for an elopement with Constance. The household confusion worsens when Marlow's servants drink freely and treat the place as an inn. Mr. Hardcastle finally orders Marlow out and forces him to understand that he has been insulting the owner of a private home. Deeply embarrassed, Marlow prepares to leave. Kate continues to present herself as a poor relation, and his attachment proves serious enough that her supposed lack of fortune does not extinguish it. Hastings and Constance's escape is exposed when a letter about the plan falls into Mrs. Hardcastle's hands. She resolves to take Constance and the jewels to Aunt Pedigree, away from Hastings. Tony offers to drive their coach, secretly assuring Hastings that he has another scheme to prevent his mother's plan. Kate asks Marlow to remain briefly, intending to let him learn her true position without simply telling him.

Sir Charles Marlow arrives, and Mr. Hardcastle explains how Tony's false directions caused the supposed-inn disaster. Young Marlow believes his courtship has failed and tells the fathers that his exchange with Kate was merely formal. Kate arranges for them to hide and overhear him speaking to her in plain dress. Marlow declares genuine love for the woman he thinks a poor relation, proving both his feelings and his willingness to overlook rank. Kate then reveals that she is Mr. Hardcastle's daughter, and the couple are reconciled. Tony meanwhile drives Mrs. Hardcastle and Constance in a circle, damages the coach, and convinces his frightened mother that they are far from home in dangerous territory even though they are near the estate. Hastings and Constance return but decide to appeal openly for permission rather than flee at once. Mr. Hardcastle reveals that Tony is already twenty-one and may choose for himself. Tony immediately rejects marriage to Constance, freeing her to marry Hastings without surrendering her fortune. Marlow and Kate also receive their fathers' approval, and both chosen matches can proceed.

Sir Charles Marlow visits the Hardcastles and learns about the mistake that caused his son to treat Mr. Hardcastle as an innkeeper. Young Marlow, now embarrassed, admits only a formal interest in Kate because he does not realize that the plainly dressed young woman he loves is Kate herself. Kate arranges for both fathers to overhear his sincere declaration, then reveals her identity and accepts him. Meanwhile, Tony drives Mrs. Hardcastle and Constance in a circle and leaves them near the Hardcastle estate while convincing his mother they are stranded in dangerous country. Hastings and Constance abandon their immediate elopement and appeal to Mr. Hardcastle. He announces that Tony has already reached the age at which he may control his own marriage choice. Tony promptly refuses Constance, freeing her to marry Hastings and retain her fortune. The deceptions end with both couples able to marry by mutual choice, while Mrs. Hardcastle is defeated in her attempt to control Constance's inheritance.